13-Days Novena 2021 – Saint Anthony's Relics: a spiritual experience in 13 parts

From May 31 to June 12 Fr. Mario Conte, editorial director of the Messenger of Saint Anthony magazine, and one of the 52 friars who minister in the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy, will guide you through a spiritual journey of discovery of the Relics of the best-loved saint in the world. St. Anthony's relics still speak of him to us today, and they witness his extraordinary presence along the days of our lives. In 13 parts, from May 31 to June 12, fr. Mario will cover centuries of history, and you will have the possibility of venerating with me the Relics of a man who was touched by the living power of God.

During this journey, we will discover the Relics of St. Anthony in the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, Italy, starting with his Tomb, where every year millions of people come to pray, asking the Saint to intercede for them with the "Father who is in heaven".

Our journey continues in the Chapel of the Madonna Mora, which was once the place where St. Anthony was buried, the Chapel of Blessed Luca Belludi and the Chapel of Relics, a splendid example of Baroque art.
We will also discover some extraordinary facts about Saint Anthony tongue.

Today we are discovering some relics that were found with the coffins that kept Anthony’s mortal remains and I will tell you the reason why he decided to become a Franciscan Friar. Anthony was able to conquer everybody with his ability to reach people’s hearts with the strength and sweetness of his words, and with the holiness of his life.

Welcome to the Basilica of Saint Anthony for this new step of discovery of the relics of our dear Saint Anthony.
Today we are in the Chapel of Relics where most of the relics are exhibited in three large niches, and we will show you some objects that underscore St. Anthony’s love for penance.

Our journey continues in the Chapel of the Madonna Mora, which was the Little Church of Santa Maria Mater Domini, later incorporated into the great Basilica. We are going to see where the marble sarcophagus that contained the mortal remains of the Saint was placed.

Today we are in the Chapel of Relics, where the Saint’s most important relics are kept, but with one exception: his left forearm. To discover where it is located, watch the video.

Why, in 1263, at the time of closing the coffin after finding the Saint’s Tongue and Chin perfectly preserved, St. Bonaventure decided to remove the left forearm from the coffin? Follow us to learn the answer.

Today, from the Chapel of Blessings Fr. Mario Conte will share with you a scary story regarding the Reliquary of the Chin of Saint Anthony that ended, thanks to God, very well.

Throughout his life as a Franciscan friar, Anthony had always tried to do the will of God, particularly through his words. Both as an itinerant preacher, as a rescuer of the downtrodden as well as a teacher of theology and a sublime writer, St. Anthony’s word, inspired as it was by the Holy Scriptures, always worked wonders. Today we are going to have a close look at the Saint’s Tongue which had remained incredibly intact.

One of the most important dates regarding the history of the relics of our dear Saint Anthony is January 6, 1981: the Tomb of the Saint, that had not been opened since 1263 when Saint Bonaventure had found the Incorrupt Tongue, was opened for the first time. Fr. Mario will tell us the details.

The Franciscan friar who wrote the Saint’s first biography, the Assidua, attests to the fact that the Saint really knew how to speak to people. He tells us that when Anthony preached, the crowd remained in total silence, and even though the multitude could reach thirty thousand people, you could hear a pin drop. Today, we are visiting the Chapel of the Relics, where the reliquary containing the Saint’s vocal cord are conservated.

Our journey continues with some interesting findings and discoveries during the anatomical examinations and the cataloging of the bones, performed by scientists from the Universities of Padua and Pisa.

Today, the last day of our journey, Fr. Mario talks about the journey of the relics of Saint Anthony throughout the streets of the world which, in over 30 months, reached every continent. A journey that after a short break has started again and still continues today.
Thank you for being with us. Peace and all good